"We're really concentrating on downtown to see what businesses we can bring in," Primeau said.

With upscale residential projects like the Harmony Mills conversion and Admiral's Walk built and Lexington Hills breaking ground, city officials consider this the time to revitalize the low-income downtown neighborhood.

The city's strategic planning committee has been working to devise a plan, said Ed Tremblay, the city's director of Community and Economic Development.

"You may not get a Christmas Tree Shop, but you can something equivalent," Primeau said.

Tremblay said the challenge is knitting together the upscale residences to the downtown.

One proposal that officials are ready to embark on is to relocate the summer farmers market from a Remsen Street parking lot to Silliman Park across from City Hall and near Canal Square. The goal is to make it easier for shoppers at the farmers market to go to the summer concert series at Canal Square.